Control means for sound recording and reproducing machines



- Sept. 1, 1942. 2,294,854

CONTROL MEANS FOR SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MACHINES E. STEED Filed May 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. L. STEED CHINES Sept. 1, 1942.

CONTROL MEANS FOR SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCIN G MA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, .1941

INVENTOR $7550 1 '*f4a. 46- A9 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 CONTROL MEANS FOR SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING'MACHINES Edgar L. Steed, Woodside,'Long Island, N. Y., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Amertype Recordgraph Corporation, Elizabeth, N. 3., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 2, 1941, Serial No. 391,533

13 Claims.

The device of the present application pertains to sound recording and reproducing and more particularly relates to a device in which the record medium consists of a strip of film with which may be associated a sound recording head and a sound reproducing or pick-up head.

The present application is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 327,582, filed April 3, 1940.

In devices of this character heretofore proposed, it has been necessary to provide a num--' ber of manipulative devices in order to adjust the mechanism to perform various functions.

The present application has for its main object the provision of a single manipulative means whereby a great many functions are performed. This single manipulative means in the present disclosure takes the form of .a shaft having a knob extending to the outside of the casing,

which knob may position the shaft in four different positions (1) record; (2) neutral; (3) reproduce or pick-up; and (4) thread. The shaft is provided with a number of devices principally in the form of cams by which the various elements are suitably positioned to perform the desired functions by merely setting the pointer of knob to the appropriate designation on an index formed on the casing.

' The manner in which the single manipulative means controls the various elements of the device will be better understood from the following detailed description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic perspective view showing the essential elements of the device; and

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to 'Figure 1, the record medium 2, in the form of a film, is fed through the machine in'any well known manner and for purposes of illustration a sprocket 3 isprovided for advanc ing the film. A pressure roller 4 applies suitable pressure to the film to thereby hold it firmly against the surface of the sprocket.- In the con-' ventional showing of Fig. 1; a backing plate 5 is situated beneath the film to form a firm surface for recording and reproducing purposes.

A recording head 6 has a rearwardly extending support 8 carried by arms 9 projecting forwardly from a sleeve Ill. The arms 9 carry pivots at movement of the pick-up head'relative to the The casing is provided with notations by which contact with the film or to be disengaged therefrom.

The pick-up head I 4 isprovided with a stylus 16 and in the position shown in Figure 1 (which is the recording position) said pick-up stylus I6 is shown disengaged from the film. To permit recording head, an arm I5 secured to the pick-up head projects rearwardly therefrom and is pivoted at H5 to the support 8 of the recording head. The pivot [6 however, is in the form of a bracket having a horizontally extending pin I! which enters an aperture in the support 8 thereby providing for vertical movement of the pickup head M as well as a slight lateral movement.

The position of the recording and pick-up heads is controlled by a single manipulative member which includes a shaft I8 the right handend of which extends beyond the casing 'l9 and is provided with a knob 20 and a pointer 2|.

the angular positions of the shaft I8 and knob 20 are indicated. The shaft is provided witha.

number of elements by which the various parts of the device are controlled.

Beginning at the right hand end of the shaft,

there is a-cam 22 which controls the position of the pressure roller '4. .The next cam 24 to the left, controls the pick-up head l4. Lam 26 next to the left controls the recording head. Adjacent to cam 26 is a pinion 28 for controlling certain switches hereinafter more specifically described. The cam 30 controls the locking disc whose function will be described later. The cam 32 controls an indexing disc which will also be later more fully described. 7

With the pointer 2| of the knob '20 at the record position shown in Figure 1, the cam 22 is ineffective and the roller 4 holds the film in contact with the roller 3 through action of the spring 33 connected to bell crank 34, the arm 35 of which supports the roller. The cam 24 their ends which pivots engage the tone arm 8 whereby it may have vertical movement to en-' has its longest radius presented to a lever 36 pivoted at 31 and having a bent portion 38 which .engages under the arm l5 thereby holding the pick-up head l4 in ineffective position in respect to the film. A wedge 31 is interposed between the cam 24 and the lever 36, in the figure 1 position, which wedge and its function will later, be described. Cam 26, on the other hand, presents its shortest radius to a lever 48 pivoted at 4| with its bent over portion 42 clearing the underside of the tone'arm 8. The lever 40 is urged to this position by a spring 43 and the recording head drops by its own weight into contact with the film when thecam 25 permits the spring 43 to act..

Movement of the knob 25 through 180 in an anti-clockwise direction to reproduce position, causes the cam 22 to be rotated a like angular amount but the cam is so shaped that it has no effect On pressure roller 4, which continues to press the film 2 against feed roller 3. The cam 24, however, now presents its shortest radius to the lever 35 and the spring 44 then acts to rock the lever 35 about the pivot 31 so that its bent over portion 58 permits the pick-up, head l4 to be lowered under its own weight to thereby permit its stylus !5 to engage the film. At the same time the cam presents its longest radius to the lever 45 to raise the recording stylus i2 out of contact with the film.-

Since it is contemplated that the present device may be used as a dictating machine, suitable .means are provided whereby the recording stylus may be vibrated under control of sound impulses. In Figure 2 a microphone 45 is diagrammatically indicated as the source of such impulses.

The recording stylus is vibrated electrically and. means are provided under control of the knob 25 by which suitable. electrical connections are made between the microphone and stylus I5 I when the knob 25 is in record position. These connections are brought about through the pinion 28 secured to the shaft l5 and which pinion is in engagement with a gear 48 of suitable size, the ratio in the present instance, for purposes of. illustration, being approximately one to two. The gear 48 carries a pin 48 engaging an elongated slot in an arm 55 secured to switch shaft conducting segment 55 is in constant engagement with terminal 55. This segment, however, isprovided with a radial arm 5| which may engage terminal 52 when the switch is in the position shown in the drawings and thereby establish an electric connection between said terminal and the terminal 55. Similarly the segment 58 has a radial arm 55 which connects terminal 54 with terminal 55 when the switch is in the position shown. The terminals 55 and 55 are.

stationary and from them conductors lead to various instrumentalities which will be described in due course.

The rotor of the right hand switch includes an insulated disc 54, and conducting segments 51 and 55.

For convenience in referring to the conducting segments 55, 55, 51 and '55, these segments are also designated respectively by the Roman numerals I, II, 'III- and IV. These designations will also be found convenient in using the tabula tion near the end of the specification.

with the knob 25 in "record" position shown ductors l5 and H back to the secondary wind- Segment (II) by bridging terminals 54 and 55, connects the source of the sound i. e. the microphone 45, to the input circuit of an emplifier shown diagrammatically at 12c Figure 2. In the right hand switch the radial arm 14 of the segment 58 bridges contacts I5 and I5 to cause a pilot light to be displayed. The source of current supply for the pilot lights (of which there are three) is indicated at A-B. The current passes from A, for instance, along wire II to terminal 15, thence along segment 58 (IV) to terminal I5 and through conductors l8 and I8 and to pilot light 8| which may be a red light. With the knob 25 in record position, the segment 5'! (III) of the right hand switch does not function.

If the knob 25 is moved from record position to reproduce position, the cams 24 and 25 function as already described to reverse the position of the recording and pick-up heads, but due to the one to two ratio in the gearing between 28 and 48, the segments I, II, III, and IV rotate through only. Under these conditions the segment 55 (I) would have caused the contact to be. broken at the terminal 82 and said segment will then perform no further function. The segment 56 (II), however, will have moved its radial arm 53 into contact with terminal 82 to thereby connect the pick-up head H with the amplifier through the medium of conductors 83 and 84, Figure 2. At the same time, the segment 58 (IV) of the right hand switch will have moved the radial arm 14 into contact with terminal 85 to establish a circuit through the pilot light 88 which for purposes of illustration, is shown as green. A current passes from A through conductor 1 1 to terminal 16, thence through segment 58, radial arm 14 to terminal 85. From terminal 85 the current passes through conductor 89 to pilot 88. Fromthe pilot it passes through conductor 89 to pilot 88. From the pilot it passes through conductor back to B terminal ofthe supply circuit. The segment 51 (III) of the right hand switch causes its radial arm 92 to contact terminal 93 thereby connecting the loud speaker 94 with the coil 55, said connection being by way of conductors 55, 85, 1| and .51 to stationary terminal 98 of the right hand switch.

Reference has heretofore been made to the cams 55 and 32 on the shaft l8 and in order to understand their function, it will first be necessary to describe certain parts which are associated with, and to some extent control, the

' lateral movement of the recording and pick-up heads with reference to the film.

Referring. to Figure .1 the sleeve l5 carrying the arms 8, which directly support the recording head, is interiorly threaded, which threads engage corresponding threads H one shaft I55,

in Figure 1,-terminals 55 and 52 are connected,

likewisetermlnals 54 and 55; that-is segments I the right hand end of which extends through the casing l9 and is provided with a knob 152 whereby the shaft I55 may be rotated manually.

Means are provided, however, whereby the recording and pick-upheads may automatically be moved step by step transversely of the film and to do this the shaft I55 is; rotated step by -.step under control of the film itself.

In the present construction the film 2 is preferably a continuous film, that is to say, its ends are Joined together and the film is fed through the machine in successive cycles.

The film I is. preferably formed of material which is nonducting element electrically conducting. A portion of the film, however, is provided with an electrically con- I03, which extends on both through conductor I31,

surfaces of the'film 2 and at suitable times bridges contact between upper and lower contact rollers I04 thereby closing a circuit through a relay I06. The armature of this relay forms one arm of a switch I05 which when the relay is energized contacts a stationary terminal I08 which closes a, circuit .through solenoid II 0. The circuit established by the contact I03 may be traced as follows: From the terminal C, current passes along conductor III to junction HI, through conductor H2 to the under contact roller I04, thence through the contact I03 to the upper roller I04 and through conductor H3 to relay I06. From the relay it passes by way of conductor H4 to junction H5, thence through conductor H6 to junction H'l. junction H'I the current passes along conductor HM and through conductors and several switches indicated by the reference letters Z Z Z and Z all of which are closed when the knob 20 is in either record or in "reproduce position. These several switches will later be described and their functions pointed out. For the present, it is sufiicient to state that the current finally passes along conductor H7 to junction H'I, and through switch Z which is closed, to the terminal D.

Relay I06 being energized, closes switch I05. As soon as the switch I05 is closed, current passes directly from terminal C to solenoid H and from the solenoid through the switch I back to terminal D. Energization of solenoid H0 causes a pawl H8 to rock about its pivot H9 to thereby disengage its tooth l20 from index disc I 22. This index disc and a locking disc I24 are both secured to shaft I00. The locking disc is normally held in locked position by a pawl I25 underr; control of spring I25 The index disc and locking discs are in the form of ratchets having their teeth facing in the opposite direction. Thus when both the pawl H8 and the pawl I 25 are in locking position, shown in Figure 1, the shaft I00 cannot be rotated in either direction. If the pawl H8 were moved to inoperative position, however, the shaft I 00 could be rotated in a clockwise direction since the pawl I25 would permit th s since this pawl would merely be moved up 0nd down as the locking disc I24 were turned.

The lifting of the pawl H0 under control of the film energizes a motor I26 shaft I00 which through the screw threads thereon engaging the interior threads of the sleeve I0 causes lateral movement of therecording and pick-up heads. of the motor is reduced through a gear box I21 which latter through a friction clutch I28 drives disc I29 secured to the shaft I00. The lifting of the right hand end of the pawl H8 causes contact to bemade at terminal I30 of switch I3I to thereby close the motor stant the motor starts to turn, the high part of a tooth of the wheel I22 prevents the pawl H8 from dropping under stress of its spring I32 thereby holding the motor circuit closed. The circuit for the motor may be traced as follows: From terminal C,the current passes through conductor III to junction I34, through I35 to the motor I26; from the motor it passes through conductor I36 to switch arm the pawl H8 to its pivotal point H9, that portion of the pawl being electrically conducting.

From

which rotatesv ous that every time the film H9, the current flows to the closed switch Z I31? to junction I31. conductor H6 to junc- From the pivot point thence along conductor From I3'I is passes along tion II I. When the several switches Z Z =,'Z

andZ are closed the result is the same as though junction II'I were directly connected with junction II'I' since conductor II'I and the several switches and the conductors therebetween, indirectly connect junctions H1 and H1.

From the mechanism just described, it is obvimakes a complete cycle and the conducting portion I03 bridges the contacts I04, the motor I26 is energized and causes the shaft I00 to be turned in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1. The amount of turning,

however, is controlled by the index disc I22 in cooperation with the pawl H8 and tooth I20. The stoppage'of the motor is brought about by the tooth I20 dropping into the next adjacent notch of the disc I22 thereby breaking the motor circuit at the switch I3I. The pawl arrests the disc I22 after'it has made rotation and although the motor does not instantly stop,- such overrunning is taken care of by means of the friction clutch I28.

From the foregoing, the function of the cams 30 and 32 will be understood. With the knob 20 in the record position, pawls H8 and I25 are effective to lock the shaft I 00 against any manual rotation. The film contact I03, however, may permit the motor I26 to give to shaft I00 a step by step rotation. The cams 30 and 32 do not interfere with the temporary disengagement of pawls H8 and I25 from their respective ratchet wheels during such automatic control of the shaft I 00. To this end the pawl I25 has attached to its left hand end, a link I38 having a bent portion I40 and a cam engaging part I4I. When the locking disc I24 is rotated by the motor; under automatic control of the film, the'pawl I25 moves up and down, but the cam engaging part I4I of the link from or close to the face of the cam 30.

. A similar construction permitsthe pawl H8 to be moved to cause its tooth I 20 to be disengaged from the index disc I 22 but only in neutral The speed of rotation circuit. The'in- I3I thence, through position-of knob 20. This pawl has a. link I42 pivoted near its left hand end and the lower end of this link is provided with a roller I43 with which the cam 32 may engage to lower the left hand arm of the pawl H8 to thereby lift its tooth I20 out of engagement with the index disc. The cam '32 has most of its surface concentric with the shaft l8, but is elongated along one radius, as shown. When the knob 20 .is moved from the position shown in Figure 1, to "neutral position the cam 32 renders pawl H8 ineffective. Cam 30 also renders pawl I25 to engage the teeth of locking disc I24 so that in neutral position, both heads may be positioned by the knob I02.

When in record position both pawls H8 and i25 are active. In reproduce position, the pawl I25 is rendered ineffective but the pawl H8 'engages the index disk'l22, except at those times when the solenoid H0 is energized.

In order to appreciate the reasons for this sequence of action, it is to be borne in mind that during reproducing the stylus i6 is engaged with film while the stylus I2 is disengaged. In order that the pick-up stylus may transverse the film step by step, the pawl H0 must function in the manner previously described. The pawl I25, however, whose primary function is to prevent manual traverse of the sound heads, is rendered a definite degree of I38 merely moves away ineifective so that the pick-up stylus l5 may be moved to different positions transversely of the film by manual rotation of the knob I52, sincethe pick-up stylus may be of a material which will not injure thefilm even though the stylus moves across it while in engagement with it. The pick-up head is also lighter than the recording head.

On the other hand, the recording stylus I2, may be of harder material than the pick-up stylus in order to form a sound track in the film but due primarily to its greater weight it is highly undesirable that this stylus should be permitted to be moved across the film when the recording stylus is in engagement therewith. Therefore, in record" position, the pawl I25 is operative to prevent any manual travers of the recording stylus, but as previously described, the recordingstylu may be moved step by step under control of the index disc I22 without interference from the pawl I25. 4

When the knob 20 is moved to neutral position the cam 22 still remains inactive and therefore roller 4 holds the film in contact with the sprocket 3. The pick-up or reproducing head I4, is up because the cam 24 is so shaped that it holds the head up except in "reproduce position,

or as its action is modified by the wedge 31'.

The recording head is also up, as the cam 25 is properly shaped to accomplish this result.

The segment I, is in "011 position with contact 5| disengaged from 52.

Segments II and III are both on in order that the system may be used for a public address. To accomplish this a contact 64* is electrically connected to 54 and contact 93 is electrically connected to 93. Segment II has its arm 53 in contact with 54 with knob 20 at neutral and segment III has its arm 92 in contact with 53, at this time. Therefore the microphone will be connected tothe input of .the amplifier and the loud speaker to the output.

Segment IV connects arm 14 with contact I44 to cause pilot light I45 to show a white light. A circuit to this light includes conductors I1, I45, I41 and 90.

head has transversed the film andmoves beyond the last track to berecorded, the pin I54 opens the switch Z and no current is supplied to the motor I51, which drives the film.

The shaft I55 'upon which the sprocket 5 is mounted is a continuationof the motor shaft.

Current to the motor I51 passes from the terminal C to Junction I55 and thence along wire I55,

to a motor terminal I55. After passing through the motor, it emerges at I" and passes along wire I52 to junction I55, thence to junction III.

From I" topasses along conductor III and through switches Z to conductor I55, to switch Z thence through switch Z through conductor I I1! to terminal. I l1 and through switch Z, to terminal D, Z being closed atthis time.

when thefilm .is being threaded through the machine it is not usually in taut position and when this occurs the switch Z opens, since .it is normally held closed under taut condition of the film. Therefore. even though the switch Z has not been manually opened, the current to the motor I5! is broken at Z and the motor automatically stops.

The switch Z is also open in "thread" position under action of a pin I54, carried by the disc 45. In Fig. 1 the disc is shown in the record position. With the knob 25 in the thread position, the disc moves through an angle of 157 degrees and at that time the pin I54 is so posia tioned that it opens the switch Z and even though the switch 2* happens to be closed, and no current is supplied to the motor I51.

It will thus be seen that Z and Z, each control the current to the motor I51 and while Z is the threading, the main purpose of the switch Z is to stop the motor in case the film should break. The switch Z is also opened by the pin I54 whenthe knob 25 is in neutral position. This is brought about by the fact thatfrom record position to "neutral" position, the knob 25 is moved through 90, but due to, theone-to-two ratio between the disc 25 and the disk 45, the latter The fourth or thread position of the knob 25 1 is used when it is desired to introduce a film into the machine. For this purpose it is necessary to lift the pressure roller 4 from off of the film and the cam .22 has a projecting portion I48 which engages the end of rod I49 supported at I50 and I5I to move said rod in the direction of the arrow to thereby rock the bell crank 34. This bell crank is eccentrically mounted so that the roller 4 moves in a path away from the sprocket 5.

In the thread position the "pick-up" head and the recording head are both up, and segment I is in such a position that no current is supplied to the recorder.

Segments H and III controlling the electrical connections to the pick-up and loud speaker are on, and may serve as an'audible means for testing whether there is any looseness of parts of the mechanism. The green pilot light is on and the connection to the microphone is "off."

In the early part of the specification, reference was made to switches Z to Z inclusive. Switch Z is in the mainline and when this switch is open no current flows to any of the instrumentalities of the machine. Switches Z to Z inclusive are provided more or less as safety devices.

Switch Z is operated by a pin I54 and extends to the right from the right hand arm 5 supportmoves only 45 degrees. At this time, the switch Z is open and thereby opens the circuit to the carriage motor I25. It does not, however, effect the circuit to the motor I51.

Switches Z, Z and 2* must all be closed in order that the motor I51 be supplied with current. It is also necessary that these three switches be closed and switch Z likewise closed,

in order to supply current to the carriage motor It has been previously stated that the cam 24 normally controls the positions of the. reproducing head and reference has been made to a wedge 51 situated between the surface of the cam 24 and the lever 55. The wedge 51} is shown in its engaged position in Fig. l in which position the cam 24 holds the pick-up head I4 out of contact with the film in record"-position and-into contact with the film in "reproduce position. It

may sometimesbe desirable to monitor while recording-and for thatpurpose, it is desirable to. have the recording-stylus and the reproducing stylus both in engagement with the film and to provide means whereby the record may be listened, to. The wedgefl provides a portion of such means. When the wedge is withdrawn from the position shown in-Fig. '1, the reproducing stylus is permitted to engage the film.

Movement of the wedge is controlled by an arm I55 to which the wedge 51 ispivoted. The arm ing the recording head. When the recording I55 is carried by a shaft I55 which extends through the panel board 2,294,854 19 and at its end car ries a handle I69 by which the shaft may be rocked from one position to another. The shaft is yieldingly held in either position by a spring detent I10 engaging notches I1l in a disc I12 secured to the shaft I68.

In order that the vibrationof the reproducing stylus may be heard, the conductor 83 Fig. 2 is tapped and two wires I14 and I15 extend to a jack indicated generally by the reference character I16. Aplug to which car telephones may be'attached is inserted in the jack and the vibrations of the "pick-up may be heard through these eartelephones.- When the plug has been withdrawn the current through the pick-up head passes along conductor 83 and I14 to contact point I18 back through wire I15 to contact point 82 as is necessary in the normal operation of the device.

In order that the positions of the various parts may be readily followeda tabulation is hereby appended. I

Record Neutral Reproduce Thread Pressureroller Down Down Down Up. Pick-up Normallyup Up Down. Up.

manually set up or down. Recordinghead Down Up Up Up. Segment I: Recorder Segment II: Pick-up Segment III: Loud What I claim is: 1. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pickup head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, means for locking both said heads from lateral movement in either direction, a single manipulative member having a recording position and a neutral position, and means controlled thereby and associated with said locking means for rendering said'locking means efiective when said member is in recording position and for releasing said locking means when said member is in neutral position.

2. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pickup head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, means for locking both said heads from'lateral movement in either direction, a manipulative member having a recording position and a reproducing position, and means controlled thereby and associated with said locking means to render ,said locking means effective when said member is in recording position and to render said locking means inefiective to prevent lateral movement in one direction only when said member is in reproducing position.

3. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head,a pickuphead, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, a lock for preventing lateral movement of said heads in one direction, a second lock for preventing lateral movement in the other direction, and means for releasing both locks to permit free lateral movement of both heads.

4. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pick up head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, a lock for preventing lateral movement of said heads in one direction, a second lock for preventing lateral movement in the other direction, a single manipulativ e member having a recording position and a neutral position, and means controlled thereby and associated with said locks for rendering both locks efiective or both ineffective, according to the position of said member.

5. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pickup head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, a lock for preventing lateral movement of said heads in one direction, a second lock for preventing lateral movement in the other direction, a single manipulative member having a recording position and a neutral position, and means controlled thereby and associated with said locks for rendering both locks effective when said member is in recording position and for rendering both locks ineffective when said member is in neutral position.

6. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pickup'head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, a lock for preventing lateral movement of both said heads in one direction, a second lock for preventing lateral movement in the other direction, a manipulative member having a recording position and a reproducing position, and means controlled thereby I whenin reproducing position to release one of said locks while maintaining the effectiveness of the other lock. v

7. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording head, a pick-up head, both said heads movable laterally in relation to said record medium, means for locking both said heads against lateral movement in either direction, a manipulative member having a recording position and a threading position, and means controlled thereby to render said locking means effective when said member is in recording position and to render one only of said locking means ineffective when said member is in threading position.

8. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a recording for vibrating said recording stylus in accordance with sound impulses, a record medium, a single manipulative member, a cam shaft rotatable thereby, a cam on said shaft and connections from said cam to said pick-up stylus to render the same ineffective to engage the record medium, a second cam on said shaft and connections from said cam to said recording stylus to engage the same with the record medium, a pinion on said shaft, a rotary switch controlled by said pinion, said switch operating to connect said source of sound impulses with said recording stylus. vibrating means.

9. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording stylus and a reproducing stylus each adapted tofengage said medium, means for vibrating said recording stylus in accordance with sound impulses, a single manipulative member, a cam shaft rotatable thereby, a cam on said shaft and connectionsfor said cam to said reproducing stylus to render the same inefiective to engage the record medium, a second member on-said shaft and connections from said cam to said recording stylus to. engage the same with the record medium when said pick-up stylus cam is positioned to render stylus, a pick-up stylus, means said pick-up stylus ineflective, a pinion on said shaft, a rotary switch controlled by said pinion,

said switch'operating to render said stylus ,vibrating means eifective.

10. A sound reproducing device, a record inedium, a pick-up stylus adapted to engage said medium, a loud speaker associated with said pick-up stylus, a single manipulative member,-a

shaftrotatable thereby, a cam on said shaft connections from said cam to said pick-up stylus to render the same effective to engage the record medium, a pinion on said shaft, a switch controlled by said pinion, said switch acting to engage said loud speaker with the pick-up stylus when said cam renders said pick-upstylus operative toengage the record medium.

11. In a sound recording and reproducing device, a record medium, a recording stylus, a pickup stylus, means for vibrating said recording stylus, a loud speaker associated with said pickup stylus, a single manipulative-member having a recording position and a reproducing position, a shaft rotatable by said, member, cams on said shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a gear engaging said pinion, rotatable switches movable with said gear, connections from said cams to said recording stylus and to said pick-up stylus, and con-' nections from said switches to said recording stylus vibrating means and to said loud speaker.

12. In-a sound reproducing device, a record medimn, a pick-up stylus support movable to place the stylus into and out of engagement with said medium, a lever connected to said stylus support, a cam cooperating with said lever and having a position inwhich it moves and holds. said stylus disengaged from the medium and a position in which said cam permits said stylus to drop by gravity into engagement with' the medium,- and means to permit said stylus to drop into engagement with the medium even though the cam is in a position normally to prevent engagement.

13. In a sound reproducing device, a record medium, a pick-up stylus support movable to place the stylus into and out of engagement -with said medium, a lever connected to said 

